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Boating in Singapore tentatively re-emerged in Singapore in June after a couple of months of lockdown that put the charter market on hold. And although the city’s local cruising destinations are limited, they’re close enough and good enough for a fun day out.
On the plus side, Singapore has a huge number of charter yachts available from numerous yachting companies including ONE15 Luxury Yachting, based at ONE ̊15 Marina Sentosa Cove.
The charter company has a menu of over 40 yachts ranging from 33ft sailing monohulls and 36ft cabin cruisers to the Azimut 116 Hye Seas and the hugely popular Eagle Wings, a Sunreef Supreme 68 sailing cat that can take up to 50 guests in the day. Most include non- motorised water toys like kayaks, paddleboards and water mats, while the likes of jetskis can be rented.
Catamarans make up about 60 per cent of the fleet and include the Lagoon 45 Ocean Diva, a new addition that can accommodate up to 27 guests for day trips – and is pet friendly. Other newcomers include a Beneteau Oceanis 37 sailing yacht, Epicurean, and a Bayliner 335, Epic Ocean, which can host up to eight and 10 guests in the day respectively.
As an indication, a group of 10 can book a four-hour charter on a 33ft monohull from US$500++ or on Eagle Wings from about US$2,500++, although these prices don’t include F&B, which can be ordered from the marina’s Latitude Bistro.
The 68ft Eagle Wings is one of Asia’s busiest charter yachts; Lazarus is a good base for day trips
Main destinations for day trips, which can range from just two hours to eight hours, are the Southern islands just south of Sentosa, including St John’s and Lazarus, which has a beach and its own pier.
“Lazarus is a lesser-known island with a relatively secluded and quiet beach, so it’s popular with those who want to avoid the hustle and bustle of city life,” says Sylvia Ng, Senior Manager, ONE15 Luxury Yachting.
For those who want to get out of Singapore for a few days or more, charter trips can include heading north along Peninsular Malaysia’s east coast to the islands of Tioman and Aur, which is both a Marine Park and National Park. Both islands can be included in a four-day itinerary.
“Pulau Tioman and Pulau Aur are great for scuba diving and snorkelling because of their abundant marine life and pristine waters, while the islands themselves are gorgeous, fringed with tropical rainforests,” Ng says.
Indonesia’s Anambas Islands, about 150nm northeast of Singapore, feature picture-perfect beaches complete with swaying coconut trees, white sand and beautiful clear blue lagoons, and need six or seven days.
“Anambas is an upcoming destination,” Ng says. “Despite its beauty, it’s still pretty much undiscovered so the best time to visit is now, before it becomes better known.”
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